In the September 13 issue of The Stage:
News Special: Lalayn Baluch reports from the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers national conference
Insight: Theatreland can no longer depend on the summer tourist trade to maintain healthy box offices, says Mark Shenton, and the West End’s problems will be made worse, not better, by the massive influx of visitors to the capital for the 2012 Olympics
Playwright Robin Soans tells Nick Smurthwaite why the public’s obsession with celebrity scandal has inspired him to write a verbatim play (Life After Scandal, Hampstead Theatre, Sep 20-Oct 20) and the challenges he has faced interviewing those who have been in the spotlight, from Neil Hamilton to Major Charles Ingram
Dear John: “I’ve got an audition for my first period drama. What can I do to make my performance authentic and should I dress to suit the part?”
Training: He’s played a disabled doctor in BBC drama Holby City and he’s the founder of an innovative theatre company, but success hasn’t come easy to Paul Henshall. He talks to Susan Elkin about overcoming the obstacles he’s faced
Composer/lyricist Jerry Herman is heading to London this month to attend a BBC Radio 2 gala concert in his honour. The Broadway legend tells Matthew Hemley all about his successful career
Corporate Work Supplement: Big business is increasingly turning to the entertainment industry for training and advice, especially via video. Michael Quinn examines the opportunities available
It’s hard to avoid Benedict Cumberbatch at the moment. Since his Bafta-nominated performance in the BBC’s Hawking, his career has taken off with a string of TV and film parts including the acclaimed Atonement. Yet, as he tells Al Senter, he’s still managed to squeeze in two lead stage roles at the Royal Court
The web has long been the comedian’s friend - getting their face seen and keeping a wide audience updated on live gigs. Constantcomedy (http://www.constantcomedy.com) goes a step further by broadcasting performances and having viewers vote to keep their favourites online. Managing director Philip Morrow tells Michael Quinn all about the new concept
Backstage Focus: Theatre Projects Consultants has been involved in a variety of activites during its 50-year history. AK Bennett-Hunter talks to former chairman Richard Pilbrow about the company’s integral role in the industry and how it stays ahead of the game
Jodi Myers looks back on the life of the late Colin Graham, whose achievements included working as artistic director of productions for English opera Group, launching the ground-breaking English Music Theatre and directing more than 50 world premieres
COLUMNISTS: Maggie Brown on the BBC’s tough spending choices ahead; Dillie Keane on why the Edinburgh fringe is in need of a rethink; Liz Thomas on the explosion of music festivals and the opportunities they provide for performers; Sal Bashir, the UK’s only Pakistani Elvis impersonator; Flyman on why technology will never completely replace backstage workers; and Patrick Newley on his obsession with the obits columns.
SHOWPEOPLE: This week’s interviewees include Flora Spencer-Longhurst, making her professional debut in The Member of the Wedding at the Young Vic and Ann Dickie, artistic director of From Here to Maturity, a company of dancers whose youngest member is a spritely 52.
Plus all the usual news, reviews, national UK theatre listings and recruitment ads.
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